Imperial China: The Mongols and The Ming

1. Imperial China: The Mongols and The Ming by: Ms. Susan M. Pojer and Mr. Mark Gonzalez Grace Christian Academy of MD

2. The Ever Expanding Mongol Empire

4. Mongolian Steppes-the original homeland of the Mongols

5. Xinjiang Region – Typical Uygher [Mongol] “Yurt”

6. Mongol Invasions

7. Mongol Warriors

8. Mongol Archer

9. Gold Saddle Arch – Mongols, 13c

10. Gold Saddle, Front View – Mongols, 13c

11. The MONGOLS [“Golden Horde”] • Temujin --> Genghis Khan[“Universal Ruler”] also spelled Chingiss Khan • 1162 - 1227 • from the steppe [dry, grass-covered high altitude plains of Central Asia] • United all the clans under his authority

12. Ghenghis Khan • Breached the Great Wall in 1211 and conquered the Chinese capital Beijing in 1215 • Led the largest empire the world has ever seen • Turned west and conquered the area the Caucasus Area between the Black and Caspian seas • His sons and grandsons extended the conquest to as far west as Russia and Eastern Europe

13. The MONGOLS [“Golden Horde”] • Genghis Khan’s Tax Laws: • If you do not pay homage, we will take your prosperity. • If you do not have prosperity, we will take your children. • If you do not have children, we will take your wife. • If you do not have a wife, we will take your head. • Used cruelty as a weaponsome areas never recovered from Mongol destruction!

14. Mongol Nobleman, late 13c

15. Yuan Golden Bowl, 13c

16. The Extent of the Mongol Empire

17. Yuan (Mongol) Dynasty, 1279-1368 C.E. • Kublai Khan [r. 1260-1294] • Pax Mongolica[“Mongol Peace”] • Tolerated Chinese culturebut lived apart from them.  • No Chinese in top govt. posts. • Believed foreigners were moretrustworthy-favored central Asian or middle eastern merchants • demoted the scholar gentry to lower status • Encouraged foreign trade & foreign merchants to live and work in China-Silk Road trade flourished • Marco Polo

18. Marco Polo (1254-1324) • A Venetian merchant. • Traveled through YuanChina: 1271-1295 • “Black Stones” [coal] • Gunpowder. • Noodles.

19. Marco Polo’s Travels

20. Yuan Porcelains & Ceramics

21. Yuan Dynasty, 1279-1368 C.E. • Capital city-Khanbalik • The Black Plague was spread by the Mongols in the mid-14c. • Sent fleets against Japan. • 1281  150,000 warriors • Defeated by kamikazi [“winds of the gods”]  • Kublai Khan experienced several humiliating defeats in SE Asia late in his life-undermined his strength

22. The Legacy of the Mongols and Yuan Dyansty • Allowed the spread and diffusion of cultures • The Mongols didn’t force their own culture on the people they conquered • Allowed conquered peoples to practice their own religions • A lot times they eventually would assimilate into the cultures of the people they defeated-ex: Yuan dyansty

23. The Legacy of the Mongols and Yuan Dyansty • China didn’t Mongolize-intermarriage forbidden, Chinese culture survived • Hurt Russia-became a vassal state and slowed their cultural development • In their own brutal way, the Mongols brought the world together and connected it in a way that it would never be disconnected again

24. Imperial China: The Ming

25. China’s last native imperial dynasty!

26. Ming Empire-founded by a poor peasant named Ju Yuanzhang • Ming means “brilliant” • Ruled China for the next 300 years • Nanjing was established as the capital • Highly suspicious of foreigners and foreign influence

27. The Forbidden City: China’s New Capital

28. Revived the Civil Service Exam and ConfucianPrinciples

29. Ming Cultural Revolution • Printing & Literacy • Cheap, popular books: • woodblock printing. • cheap paper. • Examination system. • Leads to explosion in literacy.  • Leads to further popularization of the commercial market. • Culture & Art • Increased literacy leads to increased interest in cultural expressions, ideas, and things: • Literature. • Painting. • Ceramics. • Opera.

30. Ming Silver Market • Spanish Silver Convoys • Triangle route: • Philippines to China to Japan. • Silver floods Chinese Market: • Causes devaluation of currency & recession • Adds to reasons for Chinese immigration overseas. • Reduces price of Chinese goods in Europe • Increases interest in Chinese culture & ideas in Europe. • Helps fund conquest of New World  • Encourages Europeans in conquest & trade.

31. Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644 C.E. • Golden Age of Chinese Art • Moderation • Softness • Gracefulness • Three different schools ofpainting developed. • Hundreds of thousands ofworkers constructed theForbidden City.

32. Ming Emperor Tai Zu(r. 1368-1398)

33. The Tribute System

34. Admiral Zheng He (Cheng Ho) • Ming “Treasure Fleet” • Each ship 400’ long & 160’ wide 1371-1435

35. Admiral Zheng He (Cheng Ho) • China’s “Columbus?”

36. Admiral Zheng He’s Voyages • First Voyage: 1405-1407 [62 ships; 27,800 men]. • Second Voyage: 1407-1409 [Ho didn’t go on this trip]. • Third Voyage: 1409-1411 [48 ships; 30,000 men]. • Fourth Voyage: 1413-1415 [63 ships; 28,500 men]. • Fifth Voyage: 1417-1419 • Sixth Voyage: 1421-1422 • Emperor Zhu Gaozhi cancelled future trips and ordered ship builders and sailors to stop work. • Seventh Voyage: 1431-1433 • Emperor Zhu Zhanji resumed the voyages in 1430 to restore peaceful relations with Malacca & Siam • 100 ships and 27,500 men; Cheng Ho died on the return trip.

37. 1498 --> Da Gama reached Calcutta, China’s favorite port.

38. Ming Porcelain / Ceramics, 17c–18c

39. Ming Vases, 18c

40. Ming Carved Lacquer Dish 15c

41. Ming Painting – “Taoist Scholar”

42. Ming Painting and Calligraphy, early 16c

43. Imperial China’s Impact on History • Removed religion from morality. • Beginnings of political philosophy through which a ruler must prove he/she is legitimate. • Mandate of Heaven • Secular law. • Valued history  The Dynastic Cycle